The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) has launched the NACC National Awards 2026, inviting nominations from across the care catering sector for teams and individuals who are recognised by their colleagues for going above and beyond.
Every year the NACC National Awards celebrate the skills, innovation and dedication the Association’s members demonstrate daily, whether they work in residential care homes, Meals on Wheels services, lunch clubs and day centres, or other community services. This year these prestigious Awards have been further strengthened by the addition of a new category – the Innovation Award.
The deadline for nominations in the NACC National Awards 2026 is Friday 26
th June 2026. The judges will be looking for examples of outstanding performance in delivering the highest standards of nutrition and hydration care to create tangible benefits for residents and other service users in the following categories:
- Care Establishment of the Year Award, sponsored by allmanhall
- Meals on Wheels Award, sponsored by apetito
- Catering Team of the Year Award, sponsored by Rational UK
- Catering Manager of the Year Award, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions
- Our Care Catering Hero Award, sponsored by Miele
- Region of the Year Award, sponsored by Meiko UK
- The Bev Puxley Award, sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Cooks London
- Innovation Award
The shortlist of finalists will be announced in August, with the winners in each category being announced at a Gala Dinner at the NACC Training & Development Forum* on October 15
th, when the recipients of the Pam Rhodes Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Winterhalter, and the National Chair’s Award will also be revealed.
Says Neel Radia, National Chair of the NACC: “We are excited to announce the new Innovation Award this year. Our annual Awards are always about recognising excellence within the care sector and this often goes hand-in-hand with innovative ideas that push the boundaries of great nutritional support just that little bit further. This new accolade is designed to recognise and commend those members who are leading the way in improving care catering with cutting edge innovations.
“The NACC continues to shine a light on a sector that is often undervalued and misunderstood. These Awards not only celebrate the wide range of skills our members have, but also recognise the vital role members play in ensuring the vulnerable individuals they serve eat safely, remain hydrated and enjoy every dining experience.
“I would encourage everyone to enter their colleagues in the NACC Awards 2026 to ensure the hard work and talent of their teams does not go unrecognised, and I look forward to announcing the winners in October.”
Entry to the NACC National Awards is open to all members of the NACC. The 2026 nomination brochure with full category details and entry requirements can be downloaded
here 
